How should we guide our children’s technology use for them to enjoy the benefits
without falling into the risks? This question is now a daily part of parenting, especially as
technology shows up in every corner of our kids’ lives. In his book Digital Divides: How
Schools Create Inequalities in the Tech Era, sociologist Matt Rafalow shows that
schools, and the adults inside them, play a much bigger role in shaping children’s digital
opportunities than we might expect.
Dr. Rafalow compares three California middle schools that primarily serve Latinx,
Asian, and white students. Each school approached technology very differently. In the
Latinx-majority school, teachers saw technology as a reward for hard work rather than a
tool for learning or career development. In the Asian-majority school, teachers tightly
restricted students’ tech use. Students were not allowed to use technology for
entertainment and education. In the white-majority school, by contrast, technology was
enthusiastically woven into classroom life. Students used games like Minecraft for
school projects, and even their social media posts were encouraged to impress
teachers or school administrators.
These different approaches were not random—they were shaped by racial
stereotypes. For example, Latinx students were viewed as “hard-working immigrants”
and Asian students as “hackers,” while white students were seen as “future CEOs” in
each school. These stereotypes shaped how the teacher treated the students and their
technology use. As a result, only white students in the last school could fully benefit
from their technology skills and connect them to their future careers. Dr. Rafalow argues
that children today have similar basic digital skills, but what truly changes their trajectory
is how adults interpret and respond to those skills—whether they see technology as an
opportunity, a distraction, or a threat.
If you’re interested in how families navigate these challenges at home, I am
currently recruiting for a UC Irvine study on how children use technology in the family.
I’m looking for parents of 4th–8th graders who can share their experiences—what has
worked, what has been difficult, and what questions you still have as technology
continues to change. Families who limit tech use, rely on it for childcare, or actively
encourage their children’s digital activities are all welcome to participate. Your insights
can help build knowledge that supports other parents trying to balance expert
recommendations with the realities of everyday parenting. To join, please scan the QR
code on the flyer below or sign up using this link:
https://forms.gle/U5zaG2R1qmS66zXe7
APPENDIX: Some images that can be helpful for the post
Figure 1. Book cover of Dr.Rafalow’s book
Figure 2. AI-generated image related to the article
Figure 3. Flyer for the study
